How Spider-Man: Homecoming Addresses Peter Parker's Origin Story

While Spider-Man: Homecoming serves as an origin story of sorts for Peter Parker, as Tom Holland takes over the role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe reboot of the character, it does so in a fashion which sees him evolve from a high school student into a super hero. There is no moment which sees Peter acquire his powers or using a web shooter for the first time.

Instead, the moments which drive Peter's life into acquiring super powers are addressed subtly in dialogue rather than explicitly shown on screen.

In the film, Peter is walking with his best friend Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) and being asked every question the geeky counterpart can imagine. While we never hear Peter say he was bitten by a radioactive spider, Ned is the one who asks about it having heard the story moments before the scene began. He then goes on a rant, wondering how much it hurt to get bit by the spider and considers acquiring the powers for himself but Peter assures him, the spider is dead.

As for Uncle Ben's death, the factor which becomes a major motivation point for Peter Parker when it comes to being a hero and doing what is right, the moment is never directly addressed in Spider-Man: Homecoming. This is a choice made by director Jon Watts and the creative team, who say such a moment has been carried out in movies enough times already. "For that very reason," executive producer Amy Pascal said of the Uncle Ben omission in Homecoming, with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirming, "That's why."

"We never talked about showing it, because the MO was always to not show anything we've seen before," Watts said. "If anything ever felt slightly familiar, to try to figure out if there's a way to avoid it or tackle it in a different way. But that was something that definitely felt like we've seen that before."

A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut inCaptain America: Civil War, begins to navigate hisnewfoundidentity as the web-slinging super hero inSpider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (MarisaTomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (RobertDowney, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhoodSpider-Man– but when the Vulture (MichaelKeaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.